Jobs in 2014 – are your skills in demand?

Business Analysts, Quantity
Surveyors, Claims Support and Business Development Managers
are just four of the professionals in demand as we welcome a
more active jobs market in 2014, says recruiting experts
Hays.

According to the recruiter’s latest Hays Quarterly
Hotspots list of skills in demand, there are still clearly
pockets of skills shortages across New Zealand, most notably
in accountancy, construction, insurance and sales.

“There seems to be a good level of confidence in New
Zealand’s market, which is creating job opportunities for
skilled and experienced professionals,” says Jason Walker,
Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand.

“Professionals
in many key areas of expertise will be needed this year.
Business confidence has improved and employers in many
sectors are also growing but facing a shortage of specific
talent.

“Those people with high-level skills will be in
particular demand. Such candidates are already looking to
change jobs to improve their prospects and career
development,” he said.

In a welcome trend, Jason notes
that the calibre of job seekers on the market has increased.
“People are returning to New Zealand from the UK and
Australia,” he says. “Often these candidates have been
unable to command the salaries they wanted abroad and so
they are now choosing to return home where they can secure
good roles and maintain their career paths in a strong
economy.

“These candidates are particularly sought
after for their big company experience.”

In other
trends, Hays points to the desire to recruit one higher
calibre candidate who can perform two job functions.
“Employers will pay a higher salary to one highly-skilled
individual as opposed to a lower salary for two individuals
who operate at a lower level,” notes Jason.

“Employers are also spending more time assessing what
skills the business actually requires, rather than
recruiting direct replacements. Contractors are being used
to cover workloads while this is worked out.”

A
selection of skills in demand across New Zealand from the
Hays Quarterly Hotspots for January to March 2014
follows:

• Business Analysts – Candidates with strong
IT skills are sought to add commercial value and insight
into future business planning and reporting. We are seeing
new jobs created in the analytical space to add value to
sales, operations, marketing and investment departments,

experience are sought. Those who have worked in larger
more complex environments and who are able to work with high
volumes of complex analytics are in most demand.

•
Credit Controllers – Credit control is being recognized as
a specialist skill that requires the correct fit. As a
result, there is high demand for suitable candidates who are
the correct cultural fit for the business and the role.

2014

• Audit Intermediates and Seniors – There is a
shortage of experienced Auditors with sound knowledge of
audit principles. Many good candidates leave after several
years to try commerce

in order to improve their work/life
balance and expand their skill set.

• CAD Drafters –
CAD Drafters with experience using Revit and ArchicAd (3D
Modelling) are in

high demand to work on residential
projects. Experience using New Codes is essential.

•
Registered Architects – We are also seeing high demand for
Registered Architects to design using relevant software,
manage and develop staff and take responsibility for
business development.

• Geotechnical Engineers – Senior
candidates remain in high demand for projects across the
Christchurch region. Seismic re-strengthening work in the
capital is also fuelling demand for these skills.

• 12D
Designers/Engineers – We are seeing high demand for
candidates with experience in the design of water, drainage,
roading and land development as consultancies win more
private development work in Wellington and other regions,
including Hawkes Bay.

• HR Generalists – Public sector
organisations are looking for candidates with good
demonstrated experience in change management, particularly
organisational and culture change.

• Work Health Safety
Practitioners – There is a lot of work in this space as
employers focus on impending legislative changes.
Consequently suitable practitioners are in high demand.

• Life Underwriters - Life insurance companies have
been actively seeking good intermediate to senior Life
Underwriters for both new vacancies and to replace departing
staff.

• Claims - Insurance F&G companies have a steady
flow of jobs on offer across the country, although the main
centres are Auckland and Christchurch. The surge of
storm-related claims in mid-2013 created demand for
temporary claims professionals to cover work overloads, and
fixed-term contracts are still on offer today within the
earthquake claims space.

• Infrastructure Engineers –
Within IT, Infrastructure Engineers with the latest
technologies, including cloud based experience, are sought.
Candidates need Microsoft, Cisco, storage and security
experience and the latest certificates. Local experience is
also preferred.

• Contract Administrators – There is a
shortage of candidates with budget management skills for
contract administration roles. Employers also want
candidates who can find their way around contracts easily
and advise people on contract
queries.

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